Pacific big enough for all of us: Clinton

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks during a news conference at the annual Australia-United States Ministerial (AUSMIN) meetings in Perth, Nov 14, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

PERTH, Australia - Visiting US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has flagged increased cooperation between the United States and China as critical to the stability of the Pacific at the close of bilateral talks with Australian defense officials in Perth Wednesday.

Clinton also praised the US-Australia alliance at the end of the annual Australia-US Ministerial (AUSMIN) talks at Perth's State Reception Center with Australian Defense Minister Stephen Smith, Foreign Minister Bob Carr as well as US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.

The former First Lady said the close relationship between Australia and her country could only serve to foster closer ties with China.

"Let me state the obvious, that the US and Australia have been close allies and friends for decades. Not only security ties, but commercial ties, personal ties, cultural ties... Our relationship between the two of us is among the strongest of any two countries in the world.

"By the same token we recognize that increased cooperation with China is mutually beneficial.

"So this is not a zero sum competition. Rather it is up to Australia and the US to lead the way in demonstrating that the strong relationship with us can also foster strong, healthy relations with China," she said.  

Clinton said the Asia-Pacific stands to gain from the continued peaceful rise of a strong and prosperous China.

"The entire region can benefit from a peaceful rise of China and as I've said many times we welcome a strong and prosperous China that plays a constructive and greater role in world affairs.

"The Pacific is big enough for all of us and we stand to benefit from increased cooperation across the Asia-pacific region as long as level playing field," she added.

US and Australian officials also touched on Australia's deepening future involvement in the US strategic "pivot" to Asia, post-2014 deployment in Afghanistan, as well as issues as complex as cyber warfare and space debris.

Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr told reporters that AUSMIN outcomes included the commissioning of a social impact study to further determine the public response to the rotation of US marines in Darwin as well as confirming the greater use of Australian airports and naval bases by US military.

This morning Clinton and Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta joined Senator Carr and Defense Minister Stephen Smith, in a wreath-laying ceremony at the World War One memorial to Australian soldiers in Perth's Kings Park.

Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr (L-R), US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith and US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta attend a news conference at the annual Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations in Perth, Nov 14, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]